One Point Perspective

One point perspective has also been called
central perspective and single-point perspective. These
obviously describe a situation where only one
direction point (see previous lesson)
is needed to draw an entire form or scene. (below)

In one point perspective, only one direction point is needed because
the sides of all objects are moving away from us in the same one
direction.

This point, itself, is at times called the
central vanishing point, principal vanishing point or center
of vision.

As we covered in our
previous lesson, when perspective was initially developed, artists
used only one direction point for everything within the drawing or painting.
(above) It was not for several more centuries that the understanding
and use of more than one direction point entered into the operation
for most artists.

One point perspective is still much used today,
primarily because it is so easy. Since the front and back faces of
objects are not angling away from us here, we can trace their actual
shapes onto our paper and simply connect their edges to that one
direction point. (above)

But
it may be that what you are drawing consists entirely of something moving
into the distance, as with the commonly demonstrated train tracks extending
out. (right) In such a case, like the example above, because they
are going in the same one direction away from us, they will be directing
toward just the one direction point.

The Viewpoint & Vanishing Point

As
will be covered in our next
next lesson, a direction point has
characteristics similar to our viewpoint.

The placement of a
direction point in one point perspective will actually reflect our position in relation to
the
subject. This means that if you wish to see a box from a
perspective above, simply place its direction point above it.
(right)/p>

To
see it from below, draw it with its direction point below.

Estimated One Point Perspective

UUnder
one-point perspective, as with this box illustrated to the right, the
fronts and backs of objects do not angle toward any direction points.
In other words, the front part of this box, for example, remains a perfect square.

This object has been drawn accurately according
to the rules of one point perspective, keeping us safe from ridicule by our audience,
fellow artists and instructors./p>

But
since we are viewing it from above, its bottom should look smaller than
its top (being farther away)and thus presenting some foreshortening.
(left)

In the past, such foreshortening was omitted unless
a direction point could be included underneath the cube within a reasonable
amount of table space.

One
solution is to approximate how much a form foreshortens away
from us based on our
viewing angles to it, regardless of whether direction
points are feasible. (right) Because it will still noticeably foreshorten
in real life this presents a more realistic image than if nothing
were attempted at all.

In a photograph, we might see foreshortening similar
to this. That, however, is achieved by the warping or bending together
of those lines. We are adapting this here through the subtle convergence
of its straight lines instead./p>

If not done subtly enough, though, the result
will stand out as an error or distortion.

This technique has no particular method to it.
If that makes you feel at all unstable, realize that even foreshortening
such things too much or too little is still no less accurate than using
perfectly parallel lines. So, technically, this is not necessarily creating
accurate imagery either and its usage is entirely optional.